Charities Agree to Speed Sandy Aid Programs

NEW YORK (AP) — Four charities that raised money for Superstorm Sandy relief efforts have agreed to either accelerate spending or kick in more cash as a result of negotiations with New York state.

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Thursday that the American Red Cross has pledged an additional $6 million to storm victims. That's on top of the $308 million it raised previously for Sandy relief.

Three other charities have agreed to a timetable for spending money still sitting in the bank on the storm's anniversary. They are the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church; Kids in Distressed Situations; and a foundation established by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Schneiderman has been pressing charities not to sit on large sums of relief aid for extended periods of time.